Dodds: Home run could see Boyd hit it out park at Rangers

KRIS BOYD has made many stops in his career since heading for the Ibrox exit door four years ago.

And former Gers star Billy Dodds reckons it will be a case of home sweet home if the striker clinches a return to Rangers this summer.

Boyd brought a premature end to his Light Blues career when he decided to try his luck in England and sign for Middlesbrough in 2010 as he spurned the chance to go on and become one of the club's all-time greatest scorers.

It is an opportunity that could present itself again in the coming days, however, and, in true Boyd fashion, it is one he appears set to convert.

Interest in his services is high after a terrific campaign that saw him almost single-handedly save Kilmarnock from the Premiership relegation play-off spot as, after spells with Nottingham Forest, Eskisehirspor and Portland Timbers, he has found his scoring touch back in Scotland.

Aberdeen and Dundee United are both eager to lure him away from Rugby Park this summer, but it is Rangers who are leading the race after making their move to bring Boyd back.

"I think Rangers have had to act because of the interest in Kris from elsewhere," former Light Blues striker Dodds told SportTimes.

"If Kris chooses Rangers, I think it will have a lot to do with location.

"It is a huge club and it is only a year until they are likely to be playing Premiership football. But I think it will suit Kris more to play for Rangers than Aberdeen.

"It is a huge attraction to play for Rangers and he will probably only be in the Championship for a year.

"He has been about in England, America and Turkey and I think going to Rangers is a comfortable move for him, if you like.

"But there is no doubt it is a great move for him in a football sense as well and I am sure the Rangers fans will be delighted to see him back again."

Rangers were not exactly short of goals as they eased to the League One title last season, Ally McCoist's side finding the net more than 100 times as they also breached the century of points barrier.

They will face an even greater challenge next time out as they bid for Championship glory but have already shown an early statement of their intent in the transfer market.

Darren McGregor has dropped down from the top flight to add competition at centre-half and, at the other end of the park, Kenny Miller has signed up for a third time at Ibrox.

The arrival of Boyd would further supplement an impressive attacking arsenal and Dodds knows goals won't be in short supply next term as McCoist's side set their sights on the Premiership.

He said: "Rangers won the league easily last year but the football wasn't good and the fans wanted to see more goals and a better style of play.

"They had to make sure of promotion last term. It is going to be a bigger test this season, there are good teams in the Championship.

"By getting Kenny, and if they sign Kris, it is a real sign of intent. Hopefully the club gets back on a better financial footing as well.

"Rangers are making sure they get out of the Championship and they couldn't have turned to two better players, guys that are proven at a high level. The calibre and quality is there from the two of them."

The League One champions will return to pre-season training this week as McCoist gets set to put his stars through their paces ahead of what will be their toughest challenge since their journey back to the top flight began.

The capture of Boyd would be a significant coup for the Gers boss and add another quality option to a squad that is already heavy favourites to claim the Championship crown.

McCoist will have the division's most potent attacking trio at his disposal in the coming months and the challenge now will be to get the best out of all three to ensure there are no slip-ups at their final hurdle.

Dodds said: "You need to have at least three quality strikers and Rangers would have that in Miller, Jon Daly and Boyd.

"A lot of the time Rangers only played with one last year and then someone, like Dean Shiels, playing off Daly.

"Jon did okay, I know he is not everyone's cup of tea, but he scored a lot of goals.

"Boyd and Miller will help him and while he might not play as much, he will be better for having the likes of Kenny beside him.

"When you rotate the squad and play a mixture, Kenny will be invaluable for the other two when they play with him.

"The squad will be utilised more and needed more in the Championship. Daly did okay last year but he wasn't at his best.

"He has another year to go and I think we will see more of him this year."

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